Town Meeting Approves $25,000 for Visitor Center

Town Meeting approved $25,000 Wednesday for a temporary visitor center to go in near the Uncle Sam statue.

The town’s Committee on Tourism and Economic Development proposed the article, Article 2 on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.

Angela Olszewski, chairwoman of the committee, told Town Meeting that the center is intended to promote Arlington’s history and attract more tourists to town.

“We wanted something that says, ‘Welcome to Arlington,’” she said.

The attached photo from Olszewski’s presentation is a prototype for the center, not the actual one that will be in town. The center will be fully constructed elsewhere and dropped off by a flat-bed truck.

Town Meeting member Stephen Harrington, of Precinct 13, spoke against the appropriation. Harrington said the proposed site was “not a very attractive location.” He said Town Hall garden would have been a better choice.

Harrington also wanted to see more data back up the expenditure. This money should have this type of return, for instance, he said.

The article passed by voice vote.

The Uncle Sam statue is at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Mystic Street.